Georgia Tech Upsets No. 7 UNC
Georgia Tech, beaten by 41 points in its previous game, rebounded Tuesday night for a stunning 66-64 victory over No. 7 North Carolina, despite failing to make a field goal in the final eight minutes.
The Yellow Jackets (8-2, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) led 62-50 after Alvin Jones hit a turnaround jumper, but managed only four free throws the rest of the way. The final Tech points came on two free throws by Jon Babul with 4:48 remaining.
Still, North Carolina (12-2, 0-1) couldn't make it all the way back. The Tar Heels failed to hit a shot from the field after Max Owens' 3-pointer cut Tech's lead to 66-63 with 3:52 remaining.
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In the frenetic final minutes, both teams squandered numerous chances. The Yellow Jackets twice missed the first attempt in a 1-and-1 in the final 29 seconds, while North Carolina missed two 3-pointers as the clock was winding down.
The Tar Heels got the final shot, with Ed Cota dribbling upcourt and feeding to Owens in the corner for an open 3-pointer. But the shot was long and Georgia Tech recovered the ball.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Georgia Tech after its last performance, an 80-39 rout by No. 3 Kentucky Saturday. In that game, the Yellow Jackets fell behind 25-2 and wound up shooting only 24 percent from the field.
Jason
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| Ademola Okulaja and North Carolina dropped the ball against Jason Collier and Georgia Tech. (AP) |
Floyd's final 3 capped a 15-2 run and gave Tech its biggest lead, 60-7 with 9:23 remaining -- the largest deficit for the Tar Heels this season. North Carolina responded with a 13-4 spurt to make it close, but failed to finish off the comeback.
Ademola Okulaja had 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Tar Heels.
The game was tight throughout the opening period, the lead never more than five points for either team. The Yellow Jackets took a 36-35 at halftime when Jason Collier grabbed a missed shot by Tony Akins and banked it in as time ran out.
Collier had 17 points, the only other Tech player in double figures. But the most important role might have been played by Babul, playing for the first time in five games after spraining his left ankle.
Babul, who had not even practiced since getting injured, returned to the court with a heavily taped ankle and gave the Yellow Jackets some size and strength on the perimeter and inside. He had nine points and four rebounds, helping neutralize Tech's size disadvantage in the backcourt.
Floyd hit all five of his shots in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
North Carolina was led in the opening period by Okulaja, who had 11 points and six rebounds. The Tar Heels dominated on the boards, finishing with a 44-29 advantage.
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